Baby handling device



319% c. J. GUSTAVESON f fifi fi BABY HANDLING DEVICE Filed Oct. 15, 19472 Sheets$heet 1 INVENTOR. l2 2| CLARENCE J, GUSTAVESON ATTORNEY Jame {Mmm c. .J. GUSTAVESON BABY HANDLING DEVICE 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Oct. 15,1947 INVENTOR.

8 CLARENCE J, GUSTAESON Patented Jan. 31, 195

ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to baby handling devices and is particularlyadapted for the bathing of babies in bath tubs.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a tray upon which thebaby can be placed while being bathed and dressed.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for raising andlowering the tray to different elevations so that the operator caneither stand or sit while handling the baby.

Another object of the invention is to provide a tray that can be readilycollapsed and made portable after the same has been used.

A still further object of the invention is to provide shelves and towelracks connected to the tray for supporting the toilet articles andtowels.

And a further object of the invention is to provide brackets connectedwith the tray for holding rolls of paper towelling to be used inconnection with the handling of the baby.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings,specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of my new and improved baby handling devicemounted upon the upper rim of a bath tub.

Figure 2 illustrates the same in folded position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1 looking in thedirection indicated.

Figure 4 illustrates a detail fragmentary view taken on line t4. ofFigure 1 illustrating the locking means for supporting the tray.

Figure 5 is a large sectional detail view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4of the locking mechanism.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the tray shown in Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a detail fragmentary view, parts removed for convenience ofillustration and illustrating an auxiliary back rest in place.

In the drawings:

My new and improved baby handling device is comprised of a tray I,having a perforated bottom 2 and upwardly extending side walls 3 withend walls 4. A depression 5 is formed in the bottom 2 best illustratedin Figures 3 and 6. The object of this depression is to hold the babycentrally of the tray while being handled. The bottom of the tray hasperforations I for draining the same and a sponge rubber mat may beplaced over the bottom of the tray, but I have not shown this mat inplace in the drawings.

Mounted to the end of the tray are brackets 8 for supporting a roll ofpaper 9. This paper may be spread over the bottom of the tray and tornfrom the roll after the same has been used.

The tray is supported by the pair of bars ill and H. These bars arepivotally connected together at [2. The upper ends of the bars I'll arepivotally mounted at l3 to the bracket 14 forming part of the tray I andhaving the lower ends fixedly secured to the crossbar 15 at 16. One ofthe ends of the cross bars 15 are bent up as indicated at I? (Figure 3)for engaging the side and top of the tub l8 while the opposite end ofthe bars are inserted within the bracket members I9 which are turned upat for engaging the top side of the tub. The bracket I9 is adjustablealong the end of the cross bar IE to adapt the same to any width of bathtub, and this bar may be located permanently in place.

The upper ends 2| of the bars H are slidably mounted within the slots 22of the bracket '23 forming part of the tray. A cross bar 24 connects theupper ends of the bars ll tieing them together. The lower ends of the'bars II are fixedly secured to the cross bars [5 as above described.The cross bar 24 is held in the position shown by the locking dog 25.This dog has a multiple .of notches 26 formed thereon and is pivotallymounted to the bottom of the tray at 21. Beyond this pivot the dogextends forward at '28. .A spring forces the notches 26 against thebottom of the bar, thereby holding the cross bar 24 in any desired fixedposition.

In the drawings the tray is illustrated as being held in the upper orstanding position, the notch 26 engaging the cross bar 24 bestillustrated in Figure 5, maintaining the supporting bars H] and II intheir upper position. The broken line illustrates the position of thetray while the operator is working from a sitting position. It is heldin this position by the notch 26A of the locking dog engaging the crossbar 24.

Figure 2 illustrates where the dog has been completely released from thecross bar 24! and the supporting bars l0 and l l have folded to foldedposition, the cross bar 24 has reached the end of the slot 22 whichmaintains the bars in their relative position. The ability to raise andlower the tray is one of the outstanding features of my invention andthe locking mechanism employed must be positive and secure and easy forthe operator to operate.

I have provided a supporting frame 3| for supporting the shelves 32, theupper end 33 of the frame provides a towel rack. The trays are used forholding the various toilet articles employed in the handling of thebaby. The frame 3| is pivotally mounted to the tray at 3 1 and when inuse in the position shown the extension 35 limits the travel rearwardlyof the frame by contacting the bottom of the tray. The broken lines inFigure 3 indicate the position of the frame 3| while in folded positionas shown in Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 7, I have illustrated a removable back rest 36 forthe infant. This back rest consists of a simple sheet of material havingfingers 31 passing through the perforations l and being supported by theright angle bends 38 on its sides. This provides a back rest simple ofdesign and structure which can be removed from the tray.

I will now describe the operation of my new and improved baby handlingdevice. The operator grasps the tray on either end compressing the lever28 of the locking dog 25 permitting the cross bar 24 to travel along theslot 22 allowing the supporting bars 10 and ll, including the cross bars15 to drop down to the position illustrated in Figure 1 on the top ofthe tub, then by releasing the lever 28 the dog will hold the cross bars24 in the position shown together with the complete assembly.

The frame 31 is then raised from the broken line position to that shownin Figures 1 and 3 and the tray is ready for use, and when it comes timeto fold the same by simply compressing the lever 28 and forcing the traydownwardly, the side supporting bars 18 and II fold to the positionshown in Figure 2, the towel rack and trays then can be folded downagainst the top of the tray.

I do not wish to be limited to the exact mechanical structure as othermechanical equivalents may be substituted still coming within the scopeof my claims.

What I claim is:

1. A baby handling equipment, including a tray in which the baby is tobe placed during handling, a pair of supporting legs pivoted each sideone end of the tray, a second pair of legs supported on a transverse rodextending through slots formed at the sides of the opposite end of thetray, the two pairs of legs extending downwardly at opposite angles andcrossing each other and pivoted together, a latch pivotally mountedunder one end of the tray to operate with the transverse rod, said latchhaving a series of notches in any one of which the transverse rod willengage, a spring between the free end of the latch and the underside ofthe tray to hold the latch in latching relation with the transverse rod,and a pair of bars to which the lower ends are pivoted, one end of eachbar having an angular end to engage over the side of a tub, the oppositeend of each bar having a telescopic connection with an angular extensionto engage over the side of a tub.

2. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein the tray has aperforated bottom and upwardly extending walls, one end wall beinginclined outwardly from the bottom, and a back rest having ribs toengage the inclined end Wall of the tray, and prongs at the bottom toengage the perforations in the bottom of the tray.

3. A construction as defined in claim 1, wherein one side of the tray isprovided with ears, and a frame hinged to the frame and having lugsextending inwardly beyond the edge of the tray to hold the frame invertical position.

4. A baby handling equipment adapted to be opened up over a bath-tub andcollapsible for storage or transportation comprising a tray, collapsiblelegs pivoted at opposite ends of the tray, rods pivotally mounted to thelower ends of the legs to support the equipment on a tub, a latchpivoted to the underside of the tray to lock the legs in adjustedposition when the equipment is set up for use or when in collapsedcondition, and a frame pivoted to one side of the tray with inturnedlugs to engage the underside of the tray when the legs are in elevatedposition, said frame being collapsible over the tray when the equipmentis in collapsible condition.

CLARENCE J. GUSTAVESON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 348,201 Goodnow Aug. 31, 18861,663,609 Peabody Mar. 27, 1928 1,766,085 Rumer June 24, 1930 1,808,376Polacek et al June 2, 1931 1,833,178 Rice Nov. 24, 1931 2,299,136Feldman Oct. 20, 1942 2,380,812 Webb July 31, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTSNumber Country Date 250,617 Germany Sept. 12, 1912 458,603 Germany Apr.12, 1928 562,933 Germany Oct. 31, 1932

